Abdulla Aripov and Mikhail Mishustin meet in Moscow

Special attention will be paid to the intensification of cooperation in the field of industry, transport, agriculture, science and education
MOSCOW, September 18. /tass/. The intensification of cooperation between Russia and Uzbekistan in industry, energy and other areas will be discussed at a meeting of the joint commission at the level of the heads of government of the two countries. It will be held in Moscow by the Prime Ministers of the Russian Federation and Uzbekistan Mikhail Mishustin and Abdulla Aripov, the press service of the Russian Cabinet of Ministers reported.

"It is planned to consider a wide range of issues of trade, economic, investment, cultural and humanitarian cooperation between Russia and Uzbekistan. Special attention will be paid to the intensification of cooperation in industry, energy, transport, agriculture, science and education, as well as in other areas of mutual interest," the press service noted.

The office of the Government of the Russian Federation calls energy "the most important sphere of bilateral cooperation" with Uzbekistan. "The expansion of cooperation between Russia and Uzbekistan in the gas sector not only meets the interests of the two countries, but also ensures the energy security of Central Asia," the Russian Cabinet of Ministers emphasizes.

According to the Russian side, "in the conditions of turbulence of the world economy, trade, economic and investment relations between Russia and Uzbekistan are developing dynamically." The staff of the Government of the Russian Federation drew attention to the fact that "Russia is a key trading partner of Uzbekistan," and by the end of 2022, mutual trade turnover increased by almost a third compared to 2021 and reached $8.7 billion. "In January-July of this year, the trade turnover increased by more than 14% and amounted to $5.2 billion," the Cabinet of Ministers said.

Strategic partnership
"Uzbekistan is a reliable strategic partner and ally of Russia in Central Asia. Russian-Uzbek relations are based on the principles of equality, mutual respect and consideration of each other's interests, and are traditionally friendly," the Russian government office said, adding that "Russian-Uzbek relations have recently reached the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership."

Moscow noted that Uzbekistan, which received the status of an observer country in the Eurasian Economic Union at the end of 2020, actively cooperates with this association. Russia and Uzbekistan also cooperate in the CIS, including in the fight against terrorism and extremism, crime, drug trafficking. The Cabinet of Ministers of the Russian Federation considers the partnership between Moscow and Tashkent and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization to be productive.

The Government of the Russian Federation highlights the strengthening of humanitarian and educational ties. Thus, in terms of the number of students in Russia, Uzbekistan occupies a leading place among the countries of the near and far abroad. More than 63 thousand Uzbek citizens study under higher education programs of all forms. Russian is the language of interethnic communication for 130 ethnic groups living in Uzbekistan. About 150 teachers from Russia work in Uzbekistan. More than 1,000 local teachers have been trained in advanced training courses. Currently, there are 14 branches of Russian universities operating in Uzbekistan, including Moscow State University, Plekhanov Russian University of Economics, MGIMO.

Today's meeting of the joint commission, created on the initiative of the presidents of the two countries, will be the fourth since 2019.